Education–Employment Mismatch and Implications for Women’s Empowerment in Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Education has been widely recognized as a central driver of women’s empowerment and socio-economic development worldwide. This study aimed to examine the mismatch between women’s education and employment and its implications for women’s empowerment in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). A qualitative research design was employed, involving in-depth interviews with 13 working women selected through purposive sampling. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. We found that the education–employment mismatch faced by women in AJK is deeply structural and gendered, with serious implications for empowerment. Higher education alone does not ensure meaningful employment due to weak education–labour market linkages, gender-biased employment practices, and limited institutional support. Cultural norms further shape women’s career trajectories by prioritizing family honour and domestic roles over professional growth, rendering education largely symbolic. Despite these barriers, women exercise agency through alternative work pathways and renegotiated aspirations.